The Maine Coastal Program, a Division of the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR), has opened registration for the annual Coastal Cleanup. The Coastal Cleanup is a volunteer-driven initiative designed to clean debris from Maine’s coastal shores and waterfront communities.

Part of the International Coastal Cleanup, Maine’s Coastal Cleanup will run from Sept. 6 to Sept. 20.

Anyone who wishes to coordinate a local cleanup can register online by completing a brief form on the DMR website and selecting a site along the coast.

Once a registration has been received, DMR will remove the chosen location from the available sites on the online registration form.  If a coordinator indicates on the registration form that they are seeking volunteers, DMR will list that site on its website, along with contact information, so interested volunteers can reach out to cleanup coordinators.

Prior to the date of each cleanup, coordinators will be sent a package containing resources to collect and record trash.  “We encourage Coordinators to have their volunteers bring gloves, hats, sunscreen and water to stay hydrated,” said Theresa Torrent, Outreach and Stewardship Specialist for the Maine Coastal Program.

The International Coastal Cleanup was established nearly 40 years ago to address the problem of trash in our oceans and on our coasts.  The non-profit Ocean Conservancy, which coordinates the global initiative, maintains a database of all the items that volunteers around the world record when collecting trash. 

“Every year the Maine Coastal Cleanup provides a chance for people to join a global initiative aimed at improving the health of our oceans and to support Maine’s vital coastal communities,” said Torrent.

“As the state coordinator for the International Coastal Cleanup for over 30-years, the Maine Coastal Program remains committed to supporting and facilitating efforts like this to keep our coastal beaches and waterways clean,” said Torrent.

Anyone interested in coordinating a Coastal Cleanup can register online via the DMR website.

For more information regarding Maine’s Coastal Cleanup program, please contact theresa.torrent@maine.gov